Machine for manufacturing tubes with staves.



J. M. HOMMEL.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES WIT H STAVES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. I912- a. Wm M m 6 m d n; A UN mw Q: I Mn 1 r mm 2 0 m o 0 9w P \w-W 5 6 Q m 8 mm 1 1 A m .1 I m fiTTORNBY THE COLUMBIA PLANGURAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. C.

J. M. HOMMEL.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES WITH STAVES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1912.

N WITNEJSEJ:

THE coLummA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

Patented June 6, 1916.

I SHEETS-SHEET 2- J. M.- HOMMEL.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES WITH STAVES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY'ZB; I912- Patented June 6, 1916.

7 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

mmm I nmlmilr' vs R5 ATTDRNE Y.

J. M. HOMMEL.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES WITH STAVES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1912.

Patented June 6, 1916.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

R mm

ATTDRNEY'.

THE COLUMBIA PLANouRAPH 130., WASHINGTON, u. c.

J. M. HOMMEL. MACHI'NE FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES WITH STAVES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1912.

1,186,529. Patented June 6,1916.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

'rm: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0-. WASHINGTON, D. C

J. M. HOMMEL. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES WITH STAVES. APPLICATION man JULY 26.1912. 1,186,529. Patented June 6,1916.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

I l I l I I THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 110., WASHINGTON, n. c.

J. M. HOMMEL. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES WITH STAVES.

APPUCATION FILED JULY 26,1912.

Patented June 6, 1916.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

" la qaai lmlill l WI TNEJ 5E5:

H TTGRNEY' THE COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH 20.. WASHINGTON, n c- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. HOMMEL, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DETROIT TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING TUBES WITH STAVES.

Application filed July 26, 1912.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. HoMMEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of lVayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Manufacturing Tubes with Staves, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.-

This invention relates to a'machine for manufacturing tubes formed of wooden staves or the like which is utilized by being cut into proper lengths for making packages for storing and shipping such as is disclosed in my United States Patent, #719,803 issued February 8, 1903.

The general object of the invention is a machine for automatically and continuously forming a tubular structure of any desired diameter which is automatically cut into lengths as it issues from the machine and the tube thus formed is cut up into such shorter lengths as may be necessary in forming the desired final package. In the attainment of this general object various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts are employed constituting what may be termed minor objects of the-invention and among which may be mentioned the means for feeding the staves in their proper order successively about the circumference of a tapered drum in the general relative position they are to occupy in the finished tube, the means by which the staves are moved longitudinally of the drum and there by brought into their final relative position, the means for holding the staves in such final relative position while forming a spiral groove or grooves in the outer surface thereof, and the means for automatically inserting a continuous wire or wires under tension in the grooves. The staves forming the tube are preferably arranged to dovetail together endwise as well as sidewise and the tube thus continually formed and bound by the wire or wires continuously issues from the machine and is automatically cut off in the desired lengths by means of a saw moving with the tube during the cutting-01f operation. These and further objects and novelties of the invention and the mechanism Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Serial No. 711,646.

involved in their attainment is hereinafter their final relative position and further illustrating the means and manner of forming the spiral grooves. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section on line g g of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a section of'the drum on line e-e of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a section on line ww of Fig. 3 showing the sprocket wheels and chains and the spiral gears by means of which movement is imparted thereto. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of the chain guides and the spacers for the staves. Fig. 10 is a bottom view of a lever utilized in forcing the staves into endwise engagement. Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the lever. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the drum illustrating the method of forcing the staves into endwise engagement. Fig. 13 is an elevation of the saw and mandrel by means of which the tube is cut into the desired lengths. Fig. 14 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the staves showing the method of dove-tailing together and breaking joints. Fig. 16 is a section of staves having beveled edges. Fig. 17 is a detail of the transmission gearing.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings and specification.

The machine consists of a supporting framework 1, a stave receiving drum 2, mechanism for inserting the staves in position on the drum involving a means for supporting a stack ofstavessomewhat in the nature of ahopper formed of the guide members 3, 3 engaging the end of'the staves and the wheels 4, 4., etc., provided with fin- 200 provided for the purpose. The staves are preferably tongned and grooved as shown in Fig. 15, and the receiving drum 2 is made tapering so that the staves as they pass therefrom come into edgewise contact and as they pass on to the core they are forced into proper final position by means of the pressure rollers 6 and 7. While the staves are thus securely held in their relative position, spiral grooves are formed in the outer surface thereof by means of the saws 8 and 9, operated in a manner hereinafter described. and wires 10 and 11. are inserted in these grooves supplied from the feed rolls 12 and 13. It is thus to be seen that the staves issue from the machine in the form of a tube spirally wound by wires and as it passes off from the core it is cut into desired lengths by means of the cutoff saws 14 intermittently actuated at the proper intervals. As is more clearly shown in Fig. 3 the receiving drum 2 is tapered so that the staves, when placed thereon in spaces provided therefor, gradually come into longitudinal engagement as they pass off from the drum. The drum is formed of members 15 and 16 positioned circumferentially about which are the angle iron bars 17, on which are secured the guide bars 18 and 19 as shown more fully in Fig. 9. Between these guide bars on the upper surface of the angle irons 17 is a chain provided with one or more lugs 21 and each of these lugs is provided with a laterally extending portion 22 shown clearly in Fig. 9, which rides in a groove provided in the guide bar 19 which holds the chain from displacement from between the guide bars.

As is indicated in Fig. 5, the angle iron bars 17 correspond in number to the number of staves used in forming the tube and each of these bars is provided with spacers 23, 23 which hold the staves from edgewise contact when first placed on the drum. A number of rings 24, 24, etc., are positioned around the drum out of actual contact therewith which are supported by the main frame 1. These rings are open at 25, as shown in Fig. 5, at which point the staves are introduced to the drum, and the rings are also internally grooved in which are positioned springs 26 which bear against the staves and hold them in place on the drum. As heretofore stated-the staves are arranged in a stack, the guides 3, 3 maintaining them in vertical position and, to support the stack, arms 3 are provided as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The lugs 5 on the wheels 4 are arranged to engage the lowermost stave of the stack, carry it forward and deposit it in the opening 25 in the rings 24. In order that the stave not become displaced during the time it is carried from the stack to the drum, the lugs 5 are provided with a latch member 27 held in position by a spring 28. As the wheel in its forward travel approaches the stack, the latch 27 is forced downward out of position by the cam fingers 29 thereby allowing the latch to pass in under the stave whereupon it is released and the stave is engaged between. the lug 5 and the latch 27 thus securely holding it in proper position. As the wheel 4 rotates carrying the stave for and the stave is engaged by an end 30 of the rings 24 which is arranged to draw the stave away from the lug 5 and which is thus positioned longitudinally on the drum between the spacing lingers 23. The staves are moved longitudinally on the drum by the lugs 21. on the chains 20. The chains are carried on sprocket wheels 31 and 32 mounted in the end members 15 and 16 of the drum and the sprocket wheels 31 are adjustably mounted in the member 15 in. order that the chains may be kept under tension, and the sprocket wheels 32 are mounted upon the shafts 33 of the spiral gears 34. As may be seen in Fig. 8, there is a sprocket wheel upon each side of each spiral gear and these spiral gears are rotated by reason of their engagementwith master gear 35 rotatably mounted on the shaft 36. The drum is rotated by the shaft 36 by reason of the end members 15 and 16 being secured thereto and the spiral master gear 35 has a motion independent of the shaft by reason of its being secured to the spur gear 37 meshing with the gear 38 on the shaft 39 which receives its motion in a manner hereinafter described. The spiral gear 35 rotates in the same direction as the drum 2 but at a slower rate of speed and the spiral gears 34 therefore rotate about the master gear 36 whereby rotation is imparted to them and to the chains 20.

As may be seen in. Fig. 1, the staves are so positioned on the drum as to break joints endwise and the ends of the staves, therefore, form a spiral about the drum. In fact these stave ends form a double spiral about the drum by reason of the simultaneous insertion of two stares during every revolution thereof. the wheel 4 being provided with two sets of stave inserting lugs 5, and the stares are inserted upon. diametrically opposite spaces on the drum. The stave that is first introduced is carried to the top of the drum and the second stave is carried to the bottom of the drum, whereupon both are moved rapidly endwise in order that the tongues upon the ends of these staves may be inserted in the grooves in the ends of the staves next preceding. hen the staves are first introduced into the proper spaces on the drum, the outer end of each stave rests upon lugs 40 provided upon one end of the guide bars 18 and 19 as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The end of each stave. therefore, is raised slightly above the surface of the drum and at that end of the drum are positioned two levers 41 and 42 pivoted to the frame and partially encircling the drum upon opposite sides as shown in Fig. 7. Coiled springs 41, shown in Fig. 1, hold each lever 'in its normal position and each of the levers is provided with a like finger t3 and, as the drum rotates, the raised end of each inserted stave ridesupon these fingers 43 into a. guide-way lat. At this interval the lug 21 on the chain in the space in which the stave is positioned on the drum engages against a cam 45 on the inner side of each of the levers 41 and 42 which forces each of the levers forward in the direction of the travel of the chain and at a speed faster than the chain travel. By reason of the ends of the staves engaging in the ways in the lever, this movement of the lever forces the inserted staves into endwise tongue and groove engagement with the preceding staves which at this period are passing off from the drum. As the stave moves out of the ways 4% it naturally comes into position in the space on the drum just forward of the lugs 21 on the chain and their forward movement is thereupon continued by the movement of the chain. It is to be noted that in introducing the staves on to the drum the stave that is first inserted and carried around to the top of the drum where it is acted upon by the lever i1 is necessarily inserted on the drum prior to the time at which the next preceding stave in space has completely passed off from the drum. The end of this inserted stave therefore at this interval rests on'top of the next preceding stave which has passed out. from under it bythe time the opposite end of the stave has been engaged by the finger 43.

As is indicated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, a pressure bar 46 and pressure roller l? are provided at the small end of the drum at such point as to engage the ends of the inserted staves to hold them securely in contact with the face of the drum and in alinement with the ends of the next preceding staves in order that endwise movement by means of the levers 41 and 42 will bring the ends into proper engagement. The pressure bar atG niay be held tightly in contact with the surface of the staves by means of cap screws by which it is secured to the frame work. The pressure roller 47 is held in engagement with the surface of the staves by a cam 48 acting on the roller 49 on the lever 51. This cam is provided with a surface 50 which allows the stave contacting roller 47 to drop away from the surface of the drum to allow the first inserted stave to pass thereby, this condition being made necessary by reason of the end of the first stave over-lapping the end of the next preceding one as heretofore described.

From the foregoing description of the insertion of the staves it becomes evident that the speed of revolution of the stave inserting wheels 4: must be so timed relative to the revolution of the drum that the staves are placed thereon one after the othericircun'iferentially about the drum and the staves are made to break joints endwise as the first stave introduced moves forward during a complete revolution of the drum before the next contiguous stave is introduced.

If the sheets containing Figs. 3 and l be placed in endwise relation with Fig. 3 at the right, it will be plainly seen that the staves as they pass off from the tapered drum 2 are gradually brought together into longitudinal engagement by reason of their passing on to the core 200 which is smaller in diameter than the end of the drum and as they pass off from the drum they pass beneath a ring and betweenthe spacers thereon and the pressure bar 46 and the pressure roller 47 are located upon the drum side of the ring and as the staves pass through the ring they are engaged by other pressure rollers 52 and 52 and as the staves pass on to the core 200 they pass beneath a ring 54 carrying a series of pressure rollers 6 located circumferentially thereabout and a like ring at the opposite end 'of the core provided with a like series of pressure rollers 7. The pressure rollers 6 are so positioned as to contact the staves on the longitudinal line of engagement and the pressure rollers 7 may be positioned in like manner but preferably are positioned to centrallyengage each stave. By reason of the tapered arrangement of the receiving drum 2 and by reason of the core being less in diameter than the small end of the drum the staves come into longitudinal engagement as they pass on to the core and are securely held in such engagement by reason of the pressure rollers (3 and 7 mounted onv the rings and 55 which are made to 1'0- tate with the staves by reason of the gears 56 and 57 on the rings meshing with the gears 58 and 59 on the shaft 39. During the time the staves are securely held in their final relation by means of the pressure rollers 6 and T, a series of grooves 30 is formed spirally about the staves (which are at this time in the form of a tube) by means of the saws 8 and 9. As may be seen in Fig. 1, these saws are mounted on a shaft 61 carried in a frame 62 which in turn is carried by the cross-arm 3 secured to the tubularframe bars (3 64:. These frame bars or rods 6% are reciprocatingly mounted in bearings on the frame work and the saws are forced against the staves by springs 65 and'the saws are mounted with rollers 66 of such diameter that when the rollers come into contact with the staves, the saw will cut into the staves to the desired depth. The saws receive their motion by means of a belt 67 driven in any suitable manner as the shaft and drive-pulley 69.

its heretofore stated wires and 11 from spools 12 and 13 are inserted in these spiral grooves and and wire are of such relative size that the wire is necessarily forced into the groove by the rollers T0 and Y1 and the wire is made to draw it-lv about the tube and into the grooves iv the hral e-shoes 72 which are held in contact with the surface of he spools by the weights 73.

Motion is imparted to the mechanism in the proper speed ratios in the following manner: The sprocket wheel 75 is connected to a source of power and as shown more fully in, Fig. 17 is lie ved to a sleeve 76 revolubly mounted on a sleeve 7'7 to which is secured the spur "Zo and 79 and the sleeve '7'? and the two attached spur gears are revolubly mounted on the sin ft 36. An inter ally notched spur gear 80 is also iublv mounted on the l 76 s eeve and the sleeve 76 provided with two oppositely positioned arms 81 and 82 operated by the shifting collar The gear 78 is provided .ith notches 8% adapted to receive the ends of the arms 81 and S2 and when the arms are in engagement w'th these not i the gears 78 and are directly driven by the sprocket wlie a: The arms 81 and 82 are also provided with notched portions 85 passing through the gear 80 and when the hrms 61 and 892 are in engagement in the notches Si in the spur gear 78 the notches 85 in the ar are positioned within the sear 80 which allows it to freely rotate on k i and when the arms are withi' c sleeve, 7

drawn from the notches in the gear '78 the larger portions 87 of the arms engage in tlie int rnal notches in the gear 80 and it then becomes directly driven by the sprocket wh The gear 80 is in mesh with a spur gear 00 revolubly mounted on the shaft 3i.) and connected with the gear 01 bv means of a eeve J1 is a spur g'ear which meshes with the spur 7S, and heyee to the shaft is a spur gear meshing with the sp" U. Tfhen the not( I engaged l," the pore ens ST d thus directly by the sprocket i 75, the

driven which di Yes the spur whee 02 and gears 78 and 79 and which drives the shaft 33) at a slow rate speet.

ll'hen it is desired to drive the machine more rapidly the ends of the arms 1 and 82 are made to engage in the notches 8% which drives the gear 73 and 79 and gear 3 3. the ars S0, S0 and running idle atthis period.

Figs. 1 and 2, the is provided with a gear 93 meshinn with a gear 9% keyed to the shaft 36 and by means of which the shaft 36 receives its motion. ()n the end of the shaft 36 is also a spur gear 95 meshing with a gear 96 on the shaft 97 upon which the stave inserting wheels 1 are mounted. Ihe spur gears 56 and 57 are driven by the spur gears 58 and on the shaft 39, as hereto fore stated and as may be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the shift collar 83 is operated by means of the lever 100 connected by av link 101 to the rock arm 102 on the rock shaft 103. The rock shaft may le operated by means of the hand. lever 10% by which means the machine may be made to run fast or slow as the case may be, and I have found it preferable to operate the machine at a slow rate of speed during the time the saw 1 is cutting the tube and, in order that this cutting-off 0f the length of the tube may be performed automatically and the machine automatically reduced in speed at this interxnl, I have mounted the saw and mandrel on an L shaped lever 105 pivoted to the frameworn at 106, the detail of which is shown in Figs. 18 and 1 The saw mandrel 107 is provided with a drive pulley 108 and the mandrel is of consider able length as shown more fully in Fig. 13. The saw 1% is feather keyed to the mandrel and is yieldably hel from longitudinal movement on the mandrel by a spring 109. l hen the saw is brought into engagement with the tube it may tavel longitiiidinally on the mandrel 107 in accord with the movement of the tube elf from the core and immediately upon its release from engagement with the tube it is returned to its normal position by the spring. The saw is brought into engagement with the tube by raising the horizontal part of the L shaped lever 105 which drops back out of engagement with the tube when the lever is released by reason of the weight 110 on the lever. To automatically operate the saw. I have provided a rock shaft 111 lying parallel with the horizontal art or arm of the lever 105 and on this rock shaft is a rock arm 112 acapted to engage beneath the lever 105 and upon. the end of this rock shaft is another rock arm 118 which is intermittently actuated by a lug 114: on a chain 115 carried by sprockets on the frame work. This chain receives its motion by means of the shaft 116 provided with a worm wheel 11'? meshing with the worm 118 on the shaft 39. The length of the tube to be cut off is determined by the time required for the lug 11% to travel around the sprockets and, in order that the speed of operation of the machine maybe reduced at the time the saw is brought into engagement with the tube, 1 have provided a second rock shaft 119 having a rock arm 120 adapted to be engaged by a lug 114 also on the chain 115 on the opposite side from the lug; 11 1. This rock arm 120 is similar to the rock arm 113 but is so positioned as to be engaged by the lug 1141 just prior to the operation of the rock arm 113 by the lug 11-1 and the shape of the arm is such that the lug 11% is in engagement with the arm 120 for a period slightly longer than the period during which the arm 113 is engaged by the lug 11 The arm 120 operates the shift collar 83 through the medium of the rock arm 121, line 122, and rock arm 123 on the rock shaft 103 and thence through the rock arm 102, link 101 and pivoted lever 100. Therefore at the time the saw is in operation on the tube the speed of rotation and endwise travel of the tube from the machine is automatically reduced by reason of the shaft36 being driven by the train of gears actuated by the-gear 80.

As heretofore stated staves that vare tongued and grooved sidewise and .endwise are preferably used with this machine and the staves are made on a curve of a radius substantially equal to that of the finished tube, but it is to be understood, however, that staves of various shapes may be used as. for instance, such as are shown in crosssection in Fig. 16 in which the staves are flat and have beveled edges and are not tongued and grooved at the ends.

Having thus briefly described my invention and its mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure .by Letters Patent of the United States is' 1. In a machine of the character described, a stave supporting device, a stave-receiving drum or cylinder, means for removing a stave from the supporting device and delivering it onto the drum, means for moving the staves off from the drum, a core for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, means for cutting a groove spirally about the staves while on the core, and means for introducing a wire under tension in the groove thus formed.

In a machine of the character described, a stave supporting device. a stave-receiving drum or cylinder, means for successively removing staves from the supporting device and delivering them onto the drum, means for moving the staves off from the drum, a core for receiving the staves as they ,pass from the drum, means for cutting a groove spirally about the staves while on the core, means for introducing a wire under tension in the grooves thus tormecLa-nd means for cutting the finished structure into predetermined lengths as it passes from the-core.

3. In a machine of the character described, a stave supporting device, a rotatable stavereceiving drum or cylinder, means forsuccessively removing staves from the supporting device and delivering them onto the drum. means for moving the staves off from the drum, a core for receivingthe stavesas they pass from the drum, said core being rotatable with the drum, means for holding the staves in their final relative position while on the core, means for cutting a groove spirally about the staves while so held, means for introducing a wire under tension in the groove thus formed, and means for cutting the finished structure into predetermined lengths as it passes of]? from the core. 7

41. In a machine of the character described, a stave supporting device, a tapered, rotatable, stave-receiving, drum or cylinder, means for successively removing staves from the supporting device and positioning them on the tapered drum, means for moving the staves longitudinally of the drum, a core for receiving the staves as they pass the drum, said core being rotatable with the drum, means for holding the staves on the core, means for cutting a spiral groove in the staves While so held, means for intro-.

ducing .a continuous length of wire under tension in the groove thus formed, and means for cutting :the finished structure into predetermined lengths as it passes from the core.

5. Ina machineof the character described, a stave supporting device, a tapered. rota-- table, stave-receiving drum or cylinder,

means for removing the staves successively from thesupporting device and delivering themonto the tapered drum, means for holding the staves on the drum in the general relative. position they are-to finally occupy but out of ,edgewise contact, means for moving the staves longitudinally of the drum, a core for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, said core being rotatable withthe drumand less in diameter than the small endof the drum, means for holding the staves in their final relative position while passing longitudinally across the core, a'sa-w arranged to cut a spiral groove inthe staves While passing across the core, means forintroducing a continuous length of wire under tension in the groove thus formed, and means forcutting-the Wire bound staves into predetermined lengths as they pass fromthe score.

6. In a machine of the character described,

7 a stave supporting device arranged to hold the-staves in a vertical stack, a tapered, rotatable, stave-receiving drum or cylinder,

means for successively removing the bottom stave from the stack and positioning iton the tapered drum, means on the drum for moving the staves longitudinally thereof, a

core :for receiving the staves as they :pass from the ,drum, said core being rotatable with the drum and less in diameter than the small end thereof, pressure roll ers for forcingithe staves into their final relative position as they pass onto the core, means for cutting aspiral ,groove in the outer surface of zthe staves after they are brought :into

their final relative position, and means for introducing a continuous length of wire under tension into the grooves thus formed.

7. In a machine of the character described, a stave supg'iorting device arranged to hold the staves in a stack, a stave receiving drum or cylinder, means for successively removing a stave from the bottom of the stack and delivering it onto the drum, spacers for holding the sta es out of edge-wise contact while on the drum, means for continuously moving the stares oil from the drum, a core for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, means for drawing the staves into edgewise contact as they pass onto the core, means for cutting a groove spirally about the staves while on the core, and means for introducing a wire under tension in the groove thus formed.

8. In a machine of the character described, a stave-supporting device adapted to hold the staves in a vertical stack, a tapered, rotatable, drum or cylinder provided with stavereceiving spaces adapted to hold staves out of edgewise contact, means for successively removing the bottom stave from the stack and delivering it into a space on the drum, means for forcing each inserted stave into endwise engagement with the preceding stave in the same space, means for continuously moving the stares longitudinally of the drum, a core for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, said core being rotatable with the drum and less in diameter than the small end thereof, pressure rollers for bringing the staves into contact with the surface of the core whereby they are gradually brought into edgewise engage ment as they pass onto the core, means for cutting a spiral groove in the outer surface of the staves while on the core, and means for introducing a continuous length of wire under tension into the groove thus formed.

9. In a machine of the character described, a hopper for holding a series of staves in a single, substantially, vertical stack, a tapered, rotatable drum having stave receiving spaces, means for successively removing the bottom stave from the stack, means acting in conjunction with the stave-removing means for positioning the stave in a space on the drum, means for forcing the inserted stave into endwise contact with the next preceding stave in the same space, means in each space for producing a longiti'ldinal movement of the stave therein whereby the staves are continuously removed from the drum, a core or form for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, said form being rotatable with the drum and less in diameter than the small end thereof, pressure rollers for forcing the staves into edgewise contact as they pass onto the core, means for cutting a spiral groove in the outer surface of the staves while on the core, and means for introducing a continuous length of wire under tension. into the groove thus formed.

10. In a machine of the character described, a stave receiving hopper adapted to maintain the staves in a vertical stack, a tapered rotatable drum or cylinder, stave receiving spaces on the drum arranged to hold the staves out of edgewise contact, means for successively removing the bottom stave from the stack, means acting in conjunction with the stave-removing means for introducing it into a space on the drum, means for forcing the inserted stave into endwise engagement with the preceding stave in the same space, means for continuously moving the staves longitudinally of the drum, a core or form rotatable with the drum and adapt ed to receive the staves as they pass therefrom, means rotating with the core and staves adapted to bring the staves into edgewise engagement as they pass onto the core, means for cutting one or more spiral grooves in the outer surface of the staves while in edgewise contact, and means for introducing a continuous strand or strands of wire under tension in the groove or grooves thus formed.

11. In a machine of the character described, a stave supporting device, a rotatable, stave-receiving drum or cylinder, means for successively removing staves from the supporting device and delivering them onto the drum, spacers for holding the staves out of edgewise contact while on the drum, means for continuously moving the inserted staves endwise off from the drum, a core for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, said core being rotatable with the drum and less in diameter than the drum whereby the staves are gradually brought into ed gewise contact as they pass there-onto, means for cutting grooves spirally about the staves while so held, means for introducing wire under tension in the grooves thus formed, intermittently actuated means for cutting the finished structure into predetermined lengths as it passes from the core, and means automatically thrown into action during the cutting-off operation for reducing the speed of travel of the staves from the core.

12. The method of forming tubular st *uctures of staves of short lengths which consists in positioning the staves on a form in the general relative position they are to finally occupy but out of edgewise contact one with the other, continuously moving the staves endwise and simultaneously drawing them together into edgowise contact, and securing the staves in such relation 13. The method of forming tubular structures in continuous lengths of staves of short lengths which consists in successively placing the staves on a tapered form in the general relative position they are to firmly occupy and out of edgewise contact one with the other, moving the staves endwise on the form whereby they are gradually forced together into edgewise contact, and securing the staves in such relation.

14. The method of continuously forming tubular structures of staves of short lengths which consists in successively placing the staves on a tapered drum or form in the general relative position they are to finally occupy and out of edgewise contact one with the other, independently moving each stave endwise on the form, gradually forcing them into edgewise contact, the stave being positioned on the drum in a manner to break joints endwise, and'securing the staves in such relation.

15. The method of forming tubular packages, consisting in continuously feeding staves into tubular form, feeding the tubular form longitudinally and hooping and cutting off the tube into lengths.

16. In a machine of the character described, a stave supporting device arranged to maintain th'estave ina vertical stack, a tapered, rotatable drum or form provided with stave receiving spaces, means for successively removing the bottom stave from the stack, means co-acting with the staveremoving means for positioning the removed stave in a space on the form, spacing devices for holding the staves out of edgewise contact while on the form, a chain in each space on the form adapted to move the inserted staves endwise in each space, a core or form for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, said core being rotatable with the drum and less in diameter than the small end thereof whereby the staves are gradually brought into edgewise contact as they pass thereonto, continuously operated means yieldably held in contact with the staves while on the core adapted to cut a groove thereinto, and means for introducing a wire under tension in the groove thus formed.

17 In a machine of the character described, a stave supporting device arranged to hold the staves in a vertical stack, a tapered, rotatable drum or form provided with stave receiving spaces, means for successively removing the bottom stave from the stack, means co-acting with the stave-remov ing means for positioning the removed stave in a space on the form, spacing devices for holding the staves out of edgewise contact while on the form, a chain in each stave receiving space, lugs on the chain arranged to engage the end of the staves, spiral gears carried by the drum, sprocket wheels on the spiral gear shaft by means of which the chains are operated, a spiral gear loosely mounted on the drum shaft with which the spiral gears on the drum mesh and about which they travel by reason of the rotation of the drum, the spiral gear on the drum shaft being rotatable at a slower rate of speed than the drum whereby the spiral gears are made tocontinuously rotate, a core for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, said core being rotatable with the drum and less in diameter than the small end thereof whereby the staves gradually come into edgewise contact as they pass thereonto, pressure rollers rotatable with the staves for pressing the staves into their final relative position while passing across the core, a continuously operated saw yieldably' held in cutting contact with the staves while on the core whereby a spiral groove is formed in the staves by reason of their simultaneous rotation and endwise movement, and means for introducing wire under tension in the groove thus formed.

18. In a machine of the character described, a stave supporting device comprising vertically disposed bottomless channels for engaging the ends of the staves and maintaining them in a vertical stack and supports upon which the stack rests, a

*tapered, rotatable drum or form provided with stave receiving spaces running longitudinally thereof, the stave supporting device bein arranged to hold the stack parallel with the stave receiving spaces on the drum, wheels rotatable in properly timed relation with the drum or form, grippers on the wheels for removing the bottom stave from the stack carrying it forward to the drum, means co-acting with the grippers for positioning the removed stave in a space on the drum, the staves on the form being held out of edgewise contact, a chain in each space on the drum for inoving'the inserted stave endwise therein, means for continuously operating the chain during the rotation of the drum, a core or form for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, said core being rotatable with the drum and less in diameter than the small end thereof, whereby the staves are gradually brought into edgewise contact as they pass across the core, a saw arranged to cut a spiral groove in the outer surface of the staves as they pass. across the core, and means-for introducing a wire under tension in the groove.

19. In a machine of the character described, a stave supporting device comprising vertically disposed, bottomless channels for engaging the ends of the staves and maintaining them in a vertical stack and a support upon which the stack rests, a tapered, rotatable drum or form provided with stave receiving spaces running longitudinally thereof, the stave supporting device being ar 'anged to hold the stack parallel with the stave receiving spaces on the drum, wheels rotating in properly timed relation with the drum or form, stave removing fingers on the wheels for removing the its bottom stave from the stack and carrying it forward to the drum, means co-acting with the lingers for positioning the removed stave in a space on the drum, the staves on the drum being held out of edgewise con tact, means for yieldably holding the staves in the spaces on the drum, a chain in each space on the drum for moving the inserted stave endwise therein, means for continuously operating the chains during the rotation of the drum, a core rotatable with the drum for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, said core being less in diameter than the small end of the drum whereby the staves are gradually brought into edgewise contact as they pass across the core, a saw arranged to cut a spiral groove in the outer surface of the staves while held in ed 'ewise contact, and means for introducing a wire under tension in the groove.

20. In a machine of the character described, a stave supporting d vice, comprising vertically disposed bottomless channels for engaging the ends of the staves and maintaining them in a vertical stack, and supports upon which the stack rests, a apered, rotatable drum or form provided with stave receiving spaces running longitudinally thereof, the stave supper ing device being arranged to hold the stack paral lel with the stave receiving spaces on the drum, wheels rotating in properly timed relation with the drum or form, lingers on the wheels for removing the bottom stave from the stack and carrying it forward to the drum, means co-acting with the fingers adapted to prevent a displacement of the stave while being carried forward, means co-acting with the lingers for positioning the removed stave in a space on the drum, spacers for holding the staves out or" edgewise contact while on the drum, a continuously running chain in each space on the drum for moving the inserted stave end-- ise therein, a core or form rotatable with he drum for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, said core being less in diameter than the small end of the drum, means for forcing the staves gradually into edgewise contact as they pass onto the core, means for cutting a spiral groove in the outer surface of the staves while held in edgewise contact, and means for introducing a wire under tension in the groove.

21. In a machine ot the character described, a stave supporting device comprising vertically disposed, bottomless channels for engaging the ends of the staves and maintaining them in a vertical stack and supports upon which the stack rests, a. tapered, rotatable drum or form provided with stave receiving spaces positioned long.i tndinally thereof, the stave supporting device being arranged to hold the stack parallel with the stave receiving spaces on the drum, wheels below the stack rotatable in properly timed relation with the drum, tingers carried by the wheels for removing the bottom staves from the stack and carrying it forward to the drum, means 00- acting with the fingers adapted to prevent a displacement of the stave while being carried forward, means co-acting with the fingers for positioning the removed staves in a space on the drum, spacers for holding the staves out of edgewise contact while on the drum, a chain in each stave-receiving space, lugs on the chains arranged to engage the ends of the staves, means operated by the lugs for moving the staves endwise in the space into engagement with the preceding stave prior to the engagement of the stave by the lug, spiral gears carried by the drum, sprocket wheels on the spiral gear shaft by means of which the chains are operated, a master spiral gear loosely mounted on the drum shaft with which the spiral gears on. the drum mesh, means for rotating the master spiral, gear at a slower rate of speed than the rotation of the drum whereby the spiral gears on the drum are made to rotate, a core rotatable with the drum for receiving the staves as they pass from the drum, said core being less in diam eter than the small end of the drum whereby the staves gradually come into edgewise contact as they pass thereonto, pressure rollers rotatable with the staves for holding the staves in edgewise contact wiile passing across the core, a continuously operated saw yieldably held in cutting contact with the staves while on the core, means limiting the depth of the saw hertt, the simultaneous rotation and endwise movement of the staves enabling the saw to form a spiral cut in the staves. means for introducing a wire under tension in the saw kert, and intermittently actuated means for cut-- ting the wire bound structure into predetermined lengths as it passes from the core. In a machine of the character described, a cylindrical form for receiving the staves, spacing devices for holding the staves out of edgewise contact while on the form, means for moving the staves cit from the form, means for bringing the staves into edgewise contact as they pass from the form, and means for binding the staves *ith wire after they are brought into edgewise contact.

23.1n a machine of the character described, a rotatable, cylindrical form for receiving the staves, spacers on the form for holding the staves out of edgewise contact,

means tor moving the staves oil from the form, means whereby the staves are brought into edgewise contact as they pass from the term, and means for winding a wire spirally about the staves a tter they are brought into edgewise contact.

:24. In a machine of the character, described, a rotatable cylindrical form, means for positioning staves circumferentlally thereabout, spacers on the form for holdlng the staves out ofedgewise contact, means for rotating the form, means actuated by the rotation of the form for moving the staves longitudinally thereof, means whereby the staves are brought into edgewise contact as they pass from the form, and means for winding wires spirally about the staves while m edgewise contact.

25. In a machine of the character described, a tapered, rotatable, cylindrical form, means for positioning the staves circumferentially thereabout in succession, spacers on the form for holding the staves out of edgewise contact, means for rotating the form, means actuated by the rotation of the form for moving the staves longitudinally thereof toward the small end of the form whereby the staves are forced into edgewise contact as they pass from the form, and means for Winding wire spirally about the staves after they are brought into edgewise contact.

26. In a machine of the character described, a tapered, rotatable stave receiving cylindrical form, means for introducing staves thereonto alternately upon the opposite sides of the form and in succession thereabout, spacers on the form for holding the staves out of edgewise contact, means for rotating the form, means actuated by the rotationiof the form for moving the staves longitudinally thereof toward the small end of the form whereby the staves are forced into edgewise contact as they pass from the form, and means for winding a wire or wires spirally about the staves after they are brought into edgewise contact.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for 27. In a machine of the character described, a cylindrical form, means for introducing staves thereonto circumferentially thereabout, means for moving the staves off fromv the form, means acting in conjunction with the moving means for forcing the staves into their final relative position With ries of staves successively in staggered relation to each other into tubular form and into contact on the sides and ends.

30. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotary form, mechanism for feeding staves thereon, and mechanism for arranging the staves with staggered end joints upon the form.

31. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of mechanism for feeding a series of staves into tubular form spaced apart, and means for moving the staves endwise into edgewise contact.

32. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a support for a series of staves, automatic mechanism for feeding the staves endwise successively and forming them into a hooped tube.

In testimony whereof, I sign this application in the presence of two witnesses. V

JOSEPH M. HOMMEL. Witnesses:

RICHARD ALsPAs, CHARLES E. WISNER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent; Washington, D. 0." 

